West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
From tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting:
BURGLARIES UP: Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith brought a crime update. Burglaries are on the rise in Fauntleroy, he said. In August, there was one a week, and while that might not sound like much, it’s an uptick they’re taking seriously. If you see anything unusual/suspicious happening, he stressed – there or anywhere else – call 911. Car prowls, meantime, are down slightly, and “crimes against persons” have dropped by more than half.
ENDOLYNE TRIANGLE PROJECT: As reported here, SDOT has completed the work, long requested by community members, first described at last xx’s FCA meeting. FCA’s Marty Westerman said the final product is about 90 percent of what the group and other community members suggested; questions remain about the layout of the parking spaces alongside the commercial building in the heart of the triangle, and he’ll be contacting SDOT point person Jim Curtin for a walkthrough. Otherwise, Westerman said the transition seemed to have gone smoothly.
OTHER TRANSPORTATION ISSUES: Information is still being gathered regarding who’s parking in the neighborhoods; the most recent survey was done after school started, to see if parking usage is affected by the number of West Seattleites who go to school on Vashon. Findings will be presented next month … FCA’s ferry-issues point person Gary Ewing said he’s been involved in discussions resulting from the huge recent backups, to “brainstorm” ideas about better traffic flows. No conclusions on that yet.
SCHOOLHOUSE CENTENNIAL: One of next year’s biggest events in Fauntleroy will be the historic schoolhouse’s centennial, with a celebration planned on Sunday, May 21, 2017, starting right after services at Fauntleroy Church, since the congregation includes many alumni from the old Fauntleroy School. The committee working on the celebration is seeking a small city grant to pay for refreshments and some other incidentals; they’re working on activities including an old-fashioned school carnival. The event will start with a ceremony and speakers, with the lineup almost set. Find out more about the centennial plans here.
The Fauntleroy Community Association meets second Tuesdays most months, 7 pm @ Fauntleroy Schoolhouse – check fauntleroy.net between meetings for updates.
That’s video from the halftime show at Husky Stadium on Saturday – featuring marching bands from around the state, including the West Seattle High School Band. Laura Martin sent the link as well as photos and this report:
West Seattle High School Band and Flag Squad participated in Husky Band Day this past Saturday! More than 1,000 high school students from across the state joined forces with the University of Washington Husky Marching Band for a halftime show in Husky Stadium during the UW/University of Idaho football game.
(WSHS Drum Majors Lindy Tongol, Neil Gromlich and Kevin Corona with our Husky Band member chaperone, 2015 Sealth grad Chris Laranang)
The all-day event included a morning rehearsal, the UW Husky Marching Band performing for the students during a pre-game lunch in the field house, and tickets to the game.
(2016 WSHS grads LaVera Sheilds and Bonnie Weglin, former WSHS Band members now in Husky Band!)
It was a fun and entertaining day. Great job, Wildcats!
If you couldn’t pick them out in the video – the WSHS band is in the lower right of this last photo:
Look for them at their own home stadium, Southwest Athletic Complex, when the WSHS football team hosts Garfield this Friday night, 7 pm.
With less than two months until Election Day, the 34th District Democrats are due to decide tomorrow night (Wednesday, September 14th) who they will endorse in the 7th Congressional District race, since the candidate they endorsed in the primary, County Council president Joe McDermott, did not make it into the top two. Before the vote, they’ll have a mini-forum with the candidates who did – State Sen. Pramila Jayapal and State Rep. Brady Piñero Walkinshaw. While the endorsement vote is only open to members, the meeting is open to everyone – 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW). See the full agenda here.
Almost six months after going public with their plan to turn the former Chopstix/Ho-Win into the new New Luck Toy, its proprietors are hoping to open next month.
As we continue following up on West Seattle’s next wave of restaurants/bars, we checked in today with Chef Mark Fuller, who you know best from Ma’Ono Fried Chicken and Whisky in The Junction. He and Patric Gabre-Kidan are partners in New Luck Toy (5905 California SW), which Fuller says will get its sign this Friday – you might already have noticed the facade’s being painted this week (photo above, taken shortly before publication). They hope to open in the second week of October.
In the meantime, the basics: New Luck Toy is not a restaurant with a bar – Fuller says it “is a bar that will offer a small menu (16-20 items) of classic Chinese-American dishes. 50 seats and a private karaoke room that will accommodate up to 8 people, cozily. Hours will be 4 pm til 2 am.”
About that menu – we asked for a sneak peek and – here it is! (Chef Fuller adds the qualifier that it’s a “sample menu” that “has changed a bit but is mostly the same.”) Beverages? “Frozen drinks and cocktails on draft.”
What’s the biggest reaction they’ve had? “The feedback we have received is that people are excited to have New Luck Toy in West Seattle again.”
If you’re new around here – the New Luck Toy was an old-school Chinese restaurant in the heart of The Junction, where Talarico’s is now (and has been for a decade), about a mile north of the NEW New Luck Toy. Chef Fuller notes that the interior decor will include “a couple original artifacts from the original NLT, thanks to several people in the community who helped unearth these pieces.” (It will have a few pieces of the old Ho-Win, too.)
And if you haven’t already figured it out – New Luck Toy will be 21+.
Looking for our other recent previews/updates? WSB restaurant stories are archived here, newest to oldest.
When Mayor Murray announced the “Vision Zero” plan more than a year and a half ago, the plan (p. 14) promised to start reducing speed limits on “residential streets” to 20 mph. By last summer, the change was made on a few streets in north West Seattle. Now, it’s going citywide. One week from today, the City Council’s Transportation and Sustainability Committee will consider the proposal that was announced this afternoon:
Mayor Ed Murray and Councilmembers Tim Burgess and Mike O’Brien today unveiled a proposal to enhance safety on Seattle’s streets by changing the speed limit on all residential streets from 25 to 20 MPH and streets in the center city from 30 to 25 MPH. The proposal is part of Seattle’s Vision Zero plan to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets by 2030.
“Having helped pass the Neighborhood Safe Streets Bill during my time in the legislature, I’m proud that Seattle will be the first city in the state of Washington to implement lower speeds on all residential streets,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “When combined with other elements of our ongoing Vision Zero work, such as redesigned roadways and data driven enforcement, lower speed limits will help make Seattle’s roads safer for all.”
Speed contributes to 25 percent of collisions citywide and 42 percent of downtown traffic fatalities every year. It is the critical factor in survivability for a crash. Pedestrians struck by vehicles traveling at 25 MPH are half as likely to die as those struck at 30 MPH.
“Studies show that lowering speed limits is one of the best ways to improve safety in our neighborhoods,” said Councilmember Tim Burgess. “Reducing speeds will not only reduce accidents and fatalities but it also brings peace of mind for those who use our sidewalks, including children and our elderly neighbors. The reduction we are proposing will not restrict mobility.”
In residential areas, going down to 20 MPH brings the entire neighborhood to existing school zone speed limits, making safer routes of travel for all. Vehicle safety in Seattle has improved significantly, but not for people walking and biking. Pedestrian and bicycle collisions make up seven percent of total crashes, but nearly half of fatalities. The new speed limit will apply to 2,400 miles of non-arterial streets and help enhance safe routes to schools, transit, parks and other destinations.
“The proposal presents the opportunity that exists to balance the need for safe passage with thoughtful engineering,” said Councilmember Mike O’Brien. “Reducing speed limits has a direct impact on safety and helps the City implement better design standards that will allow drivers, bikers, pedestrians and parents alike to breathe a little easier as we head back to school by bus, bike or single passenger vehicle.”
Downtown there has been a 20 percent increase in speed-related fatal collisions over the last four years. Signal timing has already been adjusted to the new 25 MPH speed limit and drivers are moving more efficiently through the center city. A 25 MPH speed limit fits the typical operating speed of vehicles in the downtown core today.
This change would mainly impact the off-peak hours when there are more high-end speeders and more severe collisions.
“Speed is the critical factor in crashes, and lowering speeds is essential if we want to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on our streets,” said Seattle Department of Transportation Director Scott Kubly. “You can save a life for only an extra minute more per trip.”
This speed limit is consistent with the Washington State speed limit for city streets and Seattle is the only city in King County with an arterial speed limit over 25 MPH. Also, 25 MPH is the speed limit in the overwhelming majority of city centers nationwide including cities like New York, Portland, Phoenix, Denver and Houston.
The City Council’s Sustainability and Transportation Committee will discuss and vote on the proposal at its September 20 meeting. The legislation will then go before the full council for a vote later this month. If passed into law, the City expects to begin rolling out speed limit changes in November.
If you’re not sure whether a street near you is “residential” – check this map. If it’s not an arterial or freeway, it’s residential.
Just in from Seattle Parks:
Many Seattle Parks and Recreation facilities will be closed Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016 due to an all-staff in-service day. The majority of classes and programs will not be running.
The facilities and programs that WILL operate in our area are listed as:
West Seattle Golf Course
Also – the following “enrichment programs” at community centers:
Southwest
· Alki Community Center, School-Age Care
· Alki Community Center, Preschool
· Delridge Community Center, School-Age Care
· Delridge Community Center, Preschool
· Delridge Community Center, Rec Tech
· Hiawatha Community Center, School-Age Care
· Hiawatha Community Center, Preschool
· Hiawatha Community Center, Teen Programs
· High Point Community Center, School-Age Care
· South Park Community Center, School-Age Care
· South Park Community Center, Rec Tech
If you need to know about programs outside this area – see the full citywide list here.
Be part of a launch! The West Seattle Food Bank‘s is launching the new annual benefit “A Grand Affair” (with co-sponsors including WSB) this Friday, and the deadline for advance-priced tickets is tomorrow night:
Come and bring your friends to the West Seattle Food Bank’s first annual “A Grand Affair” fundraiser at Westland Distillery, 2931 First Ave. S. in SODO, this Friday, September 16th, 6 pm. Last two days to buy your tickets at $65 per person or $600 for a group of 10. These prices will end this Wednesday, Sept. 14th at 12 midnight. Tickets at the door will be $75 per person. You can purchase tickets here.
A Grand Affair will be a fun Roaring 20’s themed cocktail party with casino style gaming tables ($30,000 worth of chips included with your ticket), celebrity dealers and West Seattleite’s Marty Reimer & Jodi Brothers from 95.7 The Jet, Hosted wine, beer & Hors d’oeuvres, Whiskey Tasting with Westland Distillery and themed cocktails, Mary Pickford and The Daisy served by West Seattle’s Peel & Press and West 5.
Funds from A Grand Affair will be used to serve the thousands of adults, seniors and children in our community who are in need of nutritious and healthy food; diapers, baby food and accessories; books; pet food and community outreach services.
(WSB photo, Saturday night: Police investigating at Spokane/East Marginal)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Ryan Overland‘s family is struggling to make sense of the crash that killed him.
The 39-year-old man who died after a bizarre motorcycle crash Saturday night (WSB coverage here) was so experienced, they say, there must have been some factor beyond rider error. They are hoping witnesses will come forward.
Police tell us only that the investigation is ongoing. The Traffic Collision Investigation Squad spent hours at two scenes related to the crash on Saturday night: Mr. Overland was found on S. Spokane Street north of East Marginal Way. He had fallen from the elevated roadway above – the ramp from Southbound Highway 99 to the westbound West Seattle Bridge. After his fall, his riderless motorcycle continued onto the bridge and finally stopped against the median, on the shoulder of the left lane. WSB commenters described the startling scene.
His family says Mr. Overland died at 1:30 am Sunday, about six hours after the crash. He did not live in West Seattle but was headed to visit a friend who lives on Alki. That’s according to his brother Casey Knox, who tells WSB that Mr. Overland worked as a cancer-research scientist in the private sector: “He loved what he did, always trying to make a difference in the medical field.” The family is raising money for funeral expenses via GoFundMe.
Trying to find answers is even more of a challenge. Says Knox: “We have had little-to-no contact with the police, as they haven’t received too much information about the incident, other than what was present. Trying to find out information seems impossible, but, I think this will help provide closure to many of us that were close to him. We all know how great of a rider he was, very defensive and always aware of his surroundings.” Knox says his brother taught him how to ride, and they both had traveled that same route any times before.
If you have any information that might help the investigation, TCIS detectives are at 206-684-8923; you can refer to the SPD incident number, 2016-328892.
(Great Blue Heron in morning light at Duwamish Head – photographed by David Hutchinson)
Another beautiful late-summer day in progress. Looking ahead to afternoon/evening, here are highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
‘SCHOOL YOUR PARENTS’ NIGHT & TOTE-BAG GIVEAWAY: At High Point Library, 4-6 pm tonight, Friends of the Library will be giving out book bags while supplies last. And from 5-7 pm, it’s “School Your Parents” Night, which means:
– Meet this year’s Homework Help volunteers
– Learn about Library programs including Drop in Chess, High Point Evening Book Group
– Meet staff and volunteers!
– Learn about useful databases for children and adults
– Get a preview of High Point’s fall story times
– Scavenger Hunt, prizes, refreshments!
Free! (35th SW/SW Raymond)
SING WITH ENDOLYNE: Tonight, starting at 4:30 pm, at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Admiral, it’s the first rehearsals of the season for Endolyne Children’s Choir, which welcomes singers in grades K-10th. See our calendar listing for the start times for each group’s rehearsal tonight – prospective new members welcome. (3050 California SW)
JUSTIN KAUSAL-HAYES: Live music at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 5-8 pm, no cover. (1936 Harbor SW)
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at The Sanctuary at Admiral, ANA’s biggest agenda items – as previewed here – include an SDOT briefing/update on the Admiral Way Safety Project, for which prep markings are in place, with the official work set to start in less than two weeks:
Also on the agenda, a citizen who has been researching vehicle noise around the city. All welcome at the meeting. (42nd SW/SW Lander)
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, the FCA board meets, all welcome. From the Fauntleroy Flash newsletter, agenda highlights:
This month’s agenda includes a new member proposal, the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse Centennial, text donations, Endolyne Triangle planter boxes, City Light property, parking and ferry issues, a SW District Council update, and news about the upcoming Fauntleroy Fall Festival. If time permits, additional topics include school property protection, aging in place, Cove Park graffiti, noise, and new-neighbor bags.
(9131 California SW)
THE JUKEHOUSE HOUNDS: 8 pm, live at Parliament Tavern, no cover. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
MORE, OF COURSE … if you go to our full calendar, which also explains how to e-mail us YOUR event(s) to add to it!
(WCN/WSB photo)
While Seattle city leaders debate how to help people experiencing homelessness, King County is converting one of its buildings in White Center into an “enhanced shelter” for 70 people. From West Seattle to Burien, there’s no shelter of any kind that’s anywhere close to that size, says the county official who’s leading the project. Looking ahead to a community meeting this Thursday night in White Center, we’ve been reporting on this on partner site White Center Now. Our newest report – published early today – has full details of the county’s plan for the building at 8th SW/SW 108th – read it here.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:51 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle, so far.
7:20 AM: Still relatively quiet. One transportation-news note, looking ahead to today:
SPEED LIMIT ANNOUNCEMENT: This is happening at noon in the U-District but will affect the whole city, so we’ll be monitoring: “The City of Seattle will announce a proposal for new speed limit measures to improve street safety. The proposed changes include reducing the speed limit on all residential streets and on center city streets.”
7:44 AM: Meanwhile, in the 35th-to-Avalon bus lane:
Time for a bus lane crackdown @ 35th/Avalon, @SeattlePD. cc @westseattleblog @kcmetrobus pic.twitter.com/ES4HKRDd2w
— Kevin Freitas (@kevinfreitas) September 13, 2016
8:37 AM: Still quiet, otherwise, in this area. Another look ahead:
ADMIRAL WAY PROJECT @ ANA TONIGHT: 7 pm at The Sanctuary @ Admiral (42nd SW/SW Lander), this month’s Admiral Neighborhood Association includes SDOT project reps for the upcoming changes on Admiral Way west of California SW. The group also will hear from a citizen privately researching vehicle-noise issues in Seattle neighborhoods. Here’s our full preview.
8:57 AM: Seattle Fire is responding to a reported car fire at Delridge Way/17th SW. Just one engine so far but that can be a chokepoint in South Delridge.
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